In this issue I've got more new and interesting new purchases then you can shake a stick at. Go ahead. Shake a stick at something, and know that I have more new and interesting purchases than even that.

So much new stuff for you to peruse that part 2 of this list will be coming out next week with equally cool items.

On Coins and Kittens ... And On Leaving Your Comfort Zone

My wife and I have become good friends with a family in our neighborhood. They are originally from China, though they have since become US citizens.

Recently the wife's parents traveled from China to stay with their kids and grand kids for an extended visit. Since they know no English, I vowed to learn some Mandarin Chinese phrases so at least I could communicate with them a little.

I took this very seriously. I practiced a few phrases over and over and tried hard to get the pronunciation exactly right.

Well, when I finally sprung my first well-rehearsed phrase on them, they might have been really impressed. I say “might” because they reacted instead with … laughter.

So I said it again. More smiles and even louder, but still somehow polite, laughter.

To this day, I don't know if they were laughing because this poor Westerner was trying so hard to say a few simple phrases. Or perhaps they were laughing because I was inadvertently saying something in Mandarin like:

"My uncle just digested a kitten".

I'm not sure what reaction I was expecting. But I'm still glad I took the time to step out of my comfort zone and to try something new.

So in that spirit I challenge each of you to put a toe in the water of one area of numismatics that has intrigued you a bit but you have not yet fully explored. Perhaps it is civil war tokens. Or maybe cool looking medals. Or coins of other countries that heavily circulated in early America until 1857, when that was no longer allowed by federal law.

Perhaps not coincidentally, see below and on my website for a selection of some of these out-of-the ordinary items that just might start you on your way to leaving your own personal comfort zone and finding a whole new world.

Now On to the NewP's

As in my previous newsletters, these coins are the items I have gathered over the last few weeks. The plan is to upload all these coins to my website. In the meantime, readers of this newsletter will be the very first to lay eyes on these offerings. By popular demand, I've included photos of the coins where I have them.

The “Making the Grade” Featured Coin

1807 Bust Quarter. PCGS graded MS64.Now here's a real whamma-jamma of a coin (that is a technical term; you best look it up). Just a beautiful example of a an early quarter. The next step up in grade will cost you over $100,000. This coin is accompanied by a PCGS TrueView image. $39,500.

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New Listings

1856 Braided Hair Half Cent. PCGS graded MS64 Red. CAC.Full blazing red on a type that simply does not come this way. A freak of nature, for sure. A coin like this should simply not exist. $7750.

1872 Two Cent Piece. PCGS graded Proof-66 Red & Brown. CAC.Significant amounts of red remain on this key date proof 2c piece. Very popular, as this series is unusual and completeable. The mintage was only 950, as my trusty Redbook will attest. $2675.

1838-O No Stars Seated Dime. PCGS graded AU55.This issue is very popular with numismatists due to its scarcity, as well as the fact that these dimes were the first coins struck at the New Orleans mint. Listed in the top 10 of the “10 most popular Seated Liberty O-mint coins,” in a survey of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club some years back. $1975.

1886-O Morgan Dollar. PCGS graded MS64+.Beautiful light green and gold obverse toning, with a great strike, a clean cheek and good luster. On the very cusp of 65, yet without the $175,000 price tag that an MS65 brings in today's market. Maybe someone more clever than I can upgrade it and “make” a cool $150k for themselves. If you do, you owe me a cheese sandwich. I'm serious about that sandwich. Or you can simply enjoy it as a great example of an extremely tough date in the Morgan dollar series. PCGS #7168. $26,950.

​1875 Trade Dollar. PCGS graded MS64+.A beautiful coin with many claims to full MS65, without the MS65 price. Violent violet toning over lustrous surfaces and a sharp strike. This coin Is accompanied by a PCGS TrueView image. PCGS #7037. $15,500.

1950-S Booker T Washington Commemorative Half Dollar. PCGS graded MS66.A nearly untoned example of this scarce and overlooked commemorative half. Like many in this series, you get very high grade, high quality, quite scarce coin for very little financial outlay. $135.

1798 Draped Bust Quarter Eagle. PCGS graded AU55.One of two great early gold rarities being offered herein. This is the wide date, 5 berries Redbook type. Interestingly, this reverse die was also used to strike some of the 1798 and 1800 dimes, as they are of the same diameter. There are maybe 75 pieces known of this date in all grades, from jewelry pieces on up. A scarce coin, to be sure. $45,000.

1804 $10 Gold. PCGS graded AU55.Another one of the great dates of the early gold series. Many advanced collections either skip this date entirely, or settle for one of the typical weakly struck examples that are often covered with adjustment marks. For those who know early tens, you will see this coin as a true find. $ 85,000.

(1526-1544) Henry VIII Fourpence. PCGS graded AU55.Great Britain. He's 'Enery the Eighth He Is, He Is! A very high grade example of perhaps the most famous (infamous?) of the English kings. Spink-2337E. $1295.

1779 Peru Two Reales. PCGS graded AU50.A beautiful, original example of this scarce 2 reales. This coin is accompanied by a TrueView image. $495.

1781 Mexico 8 reales. PCGS graded AU58.Crusty, choice and original example of a portrait style pillar dollar, or piece of eight. This coin is accompanied by a PCGS TrueView image. $695.

1795 Anti-Slavery Conder Token Farthing. PCGS graded MS66 Brown.Middlesex D&H-1118. A heartbreaking rendition of a man in chains, on his knees. The English were decades ahead of the Americans in abolishing the slave trade, though both countries profited mightily from the “peculiar institution” in the meantime. This example is superlative in every way and available at a most reasonable price. $1250.

1820 Mexico Half Real. PCGS graded MS65.Mexico City Mint, JJ assayer. Choice, original and lustrous. A very high grade for this issue; in fact, this is the single highest graded coin of the date seen so far by either service. This coin is accompanied by a PCGS TrueView image. $575.

1844 Contemporary Counterfeit Quarter Eagle Gold Coin. Very Fine [uncertified].A delightful example. Purchased as a part of a group of contemporary counterfeits from a dealer friend. Quite crude and lovely; hand cut dies and featuring a very determined look on the visage of Ms. Liberty. $295.

1846 Wiener Medal. Cathedral at St. Aubin at Namur. Uncirculated [uncertified].59 mm, bronze. Van Hoydonck 22. A gorgeous example of Jacques Wiener's depiction of this famous cathedral in Belgium. $295.

1864 Wiener Medal. Cathedral At Florence. Uncirculated [uncertified].59 mm, Bronze. Van Hoydonck 205. One of the most recognizable buildings in Italy, the cathedral was begun in the 13th century.The east doors were dubbed by Michelangelo the Gates of Paradise., so those must be some swell doors. Jacques Wiener does his usual amazing job of 3D sculpture on this medal. $395.

Die Set up Piece for 1983 Hawaiian Dollar Medal. Uncirculated [uncertified].An unusual and dramatic Die Set-Up strike from the Royal Hawaiian Mint, struck in the mid 1980’s. The RHM struck replica medals of the 1883 Hawaiian Dollar. The notorious Bernard Von Nothaus (hey – wouldn't that be a great name for the bad guy in a James Bond movie, or maybe for a German rapper?) made this three-strike item on a square piece of scrap metal to test the dies and presses. It measures 4’ x 4’ on each side, and all three strikes are die struck on both sides. Von Nothaus was found guilty in a Federal Trial regarding the “Liberty Dollar” he had been minting for almost ten years. A cool item to have on your desk. $195.

(Circa 1975-1986) Personal Files and Letters of Louis Eliasberg.A file of correspondence between Louis Eliasberg and various collectors and dealers – some wanting to sell him some more coins, and some wanting to purchase or auction his collection. Housed in a 3 ring binder with a brochure and other ephemera relating to his magnificent collection. $195.